Rotary steam-engine



(No Model.) I Q Q 2 Sheds-Sheet 1. L; H. TIMMONS.

ROTARY STEAM ENGINE. No. 320,725. Patented June 23,1885.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

L. H. TIMMONS.

ROTARY STEAM ENGINE. No. 320,725.

Patented June 23,1885.

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UNiTnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LINDSAY H. TIMMONS, OF DUBUQUE, IOVA.

ROTARY STEAM-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 320,725, dated June 23, 1885.

(No model.).

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LINDSAY H. TIMMONS, of Dubuque, in the county of Dubuque and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Rotary Stean1- Engines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention is an improved rotary steamengine, the special construction of which is hereinafter described, and the special features deemed by me to be new are particularly indicated in the claims.

The main objects sought to be accomplished by me are, first, to reduce the cost of manufacture of a steam-engine secondly, economy of steam; thirdly, to make the engine reversible at any speed of running safely and without injury to the engine, and, fourthly, to obviate the necessity of throttling the steam.

I have shown two forms of the engine, in one of which the principle of my invention is embodied in a non-reversible engine. In the other the same principle of construction is modified to adapt it to a reversible form of engine.

In the accompanying drawings,Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the engine in reversible form; Fig. 2, asection across the shaft of the non-reversible form. Fig. 3 shows a likesection of reversibleform. Figs.4,5,and6 show details of construction. Fig. 7 is a section on line 00 m of Fig. 3. Fig. Sis a horizontal section.

The main part of the engine consists of a solid rotary piston in the form of a disk,which revolves with a shaft and within a cylindrical case.

Referring to the drawings, the disk forming the rotary piston is shown at A, and is keyed to a shaft, R, between two plates, S S, journaled on the same shaft. The peripheries of these plates support a system of steam-pipes, D and D", leading from the boiler. The periphery of the disk is formed with a series of chambers, B B B and so on, as shown clearly in Figs. 2 and 3, but the lateral walls of the chambers appear in Fig. 4. In the spaces which separate the contiguous chambers are pivoted a series of shut-offvalves, O 0 0 &c., shown in Fig. 2 in position, but also reprethe direction of the steam being indicated by the arrow. This leads to an annular steampassage within the shell and extending around the periphery of the disk A to a point, H. To this point the outer wall of the passage is carried sufficiently distant from the valves to leave a clear steam-passage; but at this point the passage is contracted, so that the'valve reaching the point may close the passage, as

shown in Fig. 2. The contraction of the passage extends to the point where the curve G of the valve G rests in Fig. 2. Between these points the contracted passage. communicates with the exhaust-port d.

Steam being admitted through the induction-port, its effect is to turn the valve, as shown at O, with the side F brought down against the face of the wall and the sideG thrown out to its limit. The steam fills the chambers and forces the wheel to turn. The valves remain in theposition explained without interfering with the passage of the steam until they reach the point H, where they impinge against the wall of the passage, there reduced, and close it. In front of the valve, when at this point, thesteam is exhausted; but the pressure keeps the valve next preceding (0 in Fig. 2) tipped in the same direction until the valve 0 leaves the narrow part of the passage, when the valve 0 turns and closes the passage from the exhaust. The valves pass in succession in the manner described, and the piston is thereby continually rotated.

This form of the machine is applicable to stationary engines; but for engines requiring to be reversed I use the modified form shown in Figs. 3 and 4.. In this form there are two induction-ports, D and D provided with any suitable valve, M. The construction of the piston and of the valves is the same. The narrow part of the peripheral steam-passage is midway between the steam-entrances and opposite the solid part Y Y of the case. In this also is the exhaust-port d, thesame portserving for both sides. The action of the parts is precisely the same as heretofore explained in connection with the single-acting engine. The valve closes the passage at H on one side,Fig. 3, and at H on the other.

For the purpose of compensating for the wear and to keep the chambers and passages steam tight, the wheel is grooved or rabloeted, as shown at 0, Fig. 4, witha similar groove or rabbet on the opposite side. These are adapted to receive an elastic band, Z, which is not joined at the ends, so that it may expand. The outer edges of these rings fit into like grooves, TT, in the casing N, which forms the periphery of the shell, and to which the side walls, S S, are bolted, as in Figs. 1 and 8, or clamped and bolted, as in Fig. 7. Packing P is put into the grooves both under and over the rings. 1) c, Fig. 1, represent oil-cups for oiling the elastic bands Z.

I do notlimit myself to the precise form or number of the chambers.

ries of valves pivoted in the walls separating the chambers, combined with an induction steam-passage and exhaust-port, all substantially as described.

2. The rotary piston having the series of chambers in its periphery, and the series of valves pivoted in the walls between the chambers, in combination with the steam-passages D D and the exhaust-port d, all substantially as described.

3. In combination with the rotary piston having a series of chambers in its peiiphery, a recess between said chambers to receive the pivoted valves, the case consisting of the outer annular shell, N, formed with steam-passages, as described, and the side plates, S S, bolted to the annular shell N, all substantially as described.

al. In combination with the rotary piston having a series of chambers in its periphery, recesses between said chan" bers to receive pivoted valves, a case consisting of the outer annular shell, N, formed with steam-passages, and side plates, S S, bolted thereto, grooves O in the piston-periphery and corresponding to grooves T in the shell N, and an elastic ring fitted to said grooves, all substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LINDSAY H. TIMMONS.

\Vitnesses:

MIcHAnL J. KINSELLA, ALEXANDER SIMPLO'I. 

